Phonograph recorder



F. P. MOINTOSH PHONOGRAPH' RECORDER Filed Feb. 17. 1921 Patented Get. 16, 1923. i

einen t' earner icsa FREDERICK P. MGNTSH,'OF EAST JERSEY, ASSEGNORTO NEW'JERSEY PATENT COMPANY, "WEST'RNGE, NEW' JERSEY, LA COE-FORATON OF NEW JERSEY.

.PHONOGRA'EH RECORDER.

Applicaticn filed February 17, 1921. Serial No. 'lbd To @llaa/tom t 'may concern:

Be it known that Ljlinnnnrzron P. MCIN- i Toen, .a subj ect of the King of Great Britain,

y. and a resident ofEast Orange, Essex County,

ers of the -graphophone type, ythat is, those designed to cut a `hill and dale l.as distingroove. I I

The principal obyect yof my invention 1s to provide an fimproved recorder of this type Vwhich is of :simple yconstruction and which ismore efficienti'n operation and lmore economical tto manufacture than similar r-rew corders now made. i

More particularly described, my invention consists of recorder comprising .a diaphragm :casing and sound-conveying tube which .fareof improvedform and which are operatively associatedain-.a novel 4and simple manner, and also in `novel kmeans for elfectively maintaining such casing and tube in operative relation, `and `which Vvenables them so to be readily and .quickly `assembled `and disassembled.

Other features of my invention reside in the combinations of elements and construction of parts Ahereinafter .more 4fully described and claimed. t t

For a clearer understanding of my invention,.attention is ldirected tothe .drawing f accompanying and forming :a part :of .this specification, andin which `the single ligure is a viewin sideelevation,partly yin section andpartly broken away, ofa phonograph recorder embodying :my invention.

Referringtothe drawing, reference character 1 represents the body of the recorder which is ofusnal form, being provided, as is customary, with a depending annulus or llange to formthe'chamber Band with a central, upwardly eXtendingcylindrical,.hollow neck t. Reference character 5 represents my improved diaphragmfsupport or casing ,to .which lis suitablysecured, as by brazing, the base .of ,a lU-shaped arm or yoke .6l The outer yendsiof-the legs of the yoke are pivoted at 7, to the lower end of an larm l-depraiding from a lateral extenguished from a lateral .or zigzag record` sion or lug 9 formed on the body 1, whereby i i the diaphragm casing ispivotally supported from the bodyl. The lug 9 and the adjacent portion of the flange 2 of the body 1 are slotted fas indicated at 10 to receive the arm 6 so ras to provide for an increased movement ofthe d-i-aphragm casing 5 about the kpivot 7 `toward thebody 1. The legs yof the U-shaped farm 6 are connected intermediate .their endsby a screw vor rod 11, which lcoacts with `a horizontal rod 'l2 .having threaded connecy tion vwith thelower end portion of the depending arm 8, to limit the ,downward pivotal movement of the diaphragm casing 5 with respect to the body 1.`

The `diaphragm casing I5 -is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with an annular depending flange 1'3 within which the diaphragm 14 is preferably removably mounted, as by means of a ringer gasket 15 formed of rubber or other yielding material andprovided with parallel, inwardly n extending annular angestaking over the opposite faces of the diaphragm. Reference character 16 represents the `recording stylus which is mountedin the loweriend of an inclined arm or bracket V17,:the `latter being preferably secured in any .suitable mannerto the diaphragmlfl at thefcenter` and adjacent ,theedge thereof. The top of the sheet metal diaphragm casing 5 ispreferably formed with a central struck-,up portion in the form of a dome 18, such-portion or dome being provided with a centralaper-` ture 19. The diaphragm ,casing 5 may be conveniently made from sheet metal in :the form f shown and `described by a simple stampingzoperation.

Reference character 20 represents a hollow, cylindrical, vertically extending tube for ,operatively connecting the Ainterioriof the diaphragm lcasing with the-hollow neck ll. `The internal diameter of the tube 2O is appro-Ximately equal to the diameter of the opening 19 in the diaphragm casing f5, and the lower end of this tube normally engages? and rests upon the top ofthe diaphragm casing about the openingl). l :Preflerably, the lower end of the 'tube 2O is provided with an outstanding Vannular flange of the tube is considerably less in diameter than the bore of the hollow neck 4t into which the tube extends, but thel upper end of this tube is flared as indicated at 22 so as to fit fairly closely within said bore.

`The recording stylus 16 is shown inoperative engagement with a cylindrical record tablet 23, and it will be apparent that the position of the diapragm casing 5 with.

respect to the body 1, the position of the tube 2O with respect to the 'hollow n'eclrll, and also the engagement of the lower end of the tube 2() with the dome 18 of the diaphragm casing, will depend on the thicl rness of the record tablet 23 and also upon surface irregularities thereof, and will be constantly changing as the vrecorder is in operation. In order to maintain the tube 20 in operative relation with the interior of the diaphragm casing, with the flange 21 thereof in close, 'sliding contact with the end 22 of the tube 20. The legs .of the upper surface of the dome 18, I provide means preferably mounted Within the tube 20 and extending through the opening 19 in the diaphragm casing so as to engage beneath the top of such casing. The means I prefer to employ for this purpose consists of a member 24e in the `general form of an inverted U, preferably formed of resilient material such as spring wire. The length of the base 25 of the member 24: is slightly greater than the diameter of thebore vof the ,main portion of the tube 20, and when the member 24 is mounted within the tube 20 the base 25 is disposed at the upper. flared member 24; tend to spring apart aA distance considerably in excess of that in which they are shown and accordingly when the member 24 is mounted in the tube 20 these legs are under tension and the member 24,` is frictionally held in position in the tube 20. The lower end portions 26, 26 of the legs of the member 24 extend laterally toward each other and when the member 24'is mounted in the tube 2O such portions cross each other,

\ as shown, at a point adjacentthe lower end t operatively assembled, however, as shown in the drawing, the member 24 yieldinglyv maintains the tube 20 in operative relation to the diaphragm casing 5 with the flange 21 closely in engagement with the top of the dome 18 in all operative positions of the diaphragm casing with respect to the body i/ivdess i. The crossing of the legs of the member 24 at a point adjacent the opening 19 when the parts are in operative position, as shown, is an important feature, for by reason of this the'legs of the member 24: will not engage the wall of the opening 19 so as to interfere with the lower flanged end of the tube 20 sliding laterally over the dome 18 as the diaphragm casing 5 moves about the pivot point 7. Consequently, it will be apparent that in all pivotal positions of the diaphragm casing 5 with reference to the body 1 within the operativelimits, the flange 21 at the lower `end of the tube 20 will be maintained in close contact with the top surface of the dome 18 and the sound waves entering the neck 4 will be effectively conveyed to the interior of the diaphragm casing 5.

I find that by providing the diaphragm casing with the struck-up or upstanding central portion or dome 18, instead of depressing the central portion of the top of said casing so that it lies closely adjacent to the diaphragm, as has heretofore been customary for the purpose of providing a socket for the lower end of the sound-conveying tube, the recorder is rendered more efficient in that the diaphragm is vibrated more truly in accordance with the sound waves transmitted to the recorder, and a more faithful and clearly defined record groove is obtained.

llVhile I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that t-he same is subject to many changes and modifications without departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body portion having an upwardly extending hollow neck, of a diaphragm support movably mounted on said body portion and having an 4apertured upstandingdome, and a tube the upper end of which extends into said neck, and the lower end of which is provided with a flangeV the top of said casing about said aper` ture, and means fo-r holding 'said tube in operative relation to said casing comprising a member disposed within the tube and having a portion extending through said aperture and beneath the top of said casing, substantially as described.

3. vIn a device of the class described, a daphragm casing, the top of which is provided with an aperture, a tube having its lower end engaging the upper surface of the top of said casing about said aperture, and means for holding said tube in operative relation p to said casing comprising a resilient member in the general form of an inverted U, disposed within said tube and having the lower end portions of its legs extending through the aperture in said casing and beneath the top of said casing, substantially as described.

4f. In a device of the class described, a diaphragm casing the top of which is provided with an aperture, a tube having its lower end engaging the upper surface of the top of said casing about said aperture, and means for holding said tube in operative relation to said casing comprising a resilient inember in the general form of an inverted U, disposed within said tube and having the lower end portions of its legs extending through the aperture in said ycasing and beneath the top of said casing, said lower end 95 portions crossing each other adjacent where they pass through said aperture, substantially as described. y

5. In a device of the class described, a. diaphragm casing, the top of said casing being formed with an upstanding apertured dome, a tube provided with a ange at its lower end conforming to and slidably engaging the upper surface of said dome about said aperture, and means Jfor holding said tube in operative relation to said casing comprising a member disposed within the tube and having a portion extending through said aperture and beneath the top of said casing, substantially as described.v

6. In a device of the class described, a diaphragm casing having an aperture in the top thereof, a tube having its lower end engaging the upper surface of the top of said casing about said aperture, the upper end of said tube being ared, and means for holding said tubey in yoperative relation to said casing, comprising a resilient member' 1n the general form of an inverted U, disposed within said tube and having the lower end portions of its legs extending through said aperture and beneath the top of said casing,

the base of said resilient member being of `greater length than the diameter of the body `portion of said tube and being located at the ing having an aperture in the top thereof, a y

tube having its lower end engaging the top of said casing about said aperture, and means for holding said tube in operative relation to said casing comprising a substantially U-shaped member disposed within said tube and having the end portions of its legs extending through said aperture and beneath the top of said casing, the base of said member being disposed adjacent the top of said tube and being of greater length than the diameter ofthe main portion of the tube, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described, a diaphragm casing formed of sheet metal, the top of said casing being provided with a struck-up or upstanding apertured dome` portion, and a tube provided with a flange at one end conforming to and slidably engaging said struck-up portion about the aperture therein, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the class described, a diaphragm casing the top of which is provided with an upstanding apertured dome, a tube having one end conforming to and adapted to slida-bly engage said dome about the aperture therein, and means for maintaining said end of said tube in operative relation to said casing, substantially as described.

This speciication signed this 15th day of February 1921.

FREDERICK P. MoINTOSH.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,470,633, registered October 16, 1923, upon the application of Frederick P. McIntosh, of East Orange, New Jersey, for an improvement in Phonograph Recorders, errors appear in the printed specication requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 109, before the word same insert the words upper or outerl surface of the; page 1, line 110, and page 2, line 1, strike out the Words upper said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of November, A. D., 1923.

[SEAL] v KARL FENNING,

Acting Commission-e1" 07 Patents.

therein that the same or outer surface of the and that the 

